Effect of deflazacort versus methylprednisone on growth, body composition, lipid profile, and bone mass after renal transplantation. The Deflazacort Study Group.

Article Details

Citation

Ferraris JR, Pasqualini T, Legal S, Sorroche P, Galich AM, Pennisi P, Domene H, Jasper H

Effect of deflazacort versus methylprednisone on growth, body composition, lipid profile, and bone mass after renal transplantation. The Deflazacort Study Group.

Pediatr Nephrol. 2000 Jul;14(7):682-8.

PubMed ID
10912543 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Kidney function, growth velocity, weight/height ratio, body composition, lipid profile, and bone mass were studied in a randomized, multicenter trial of deflazacort versus methylprednisone in 27 prepubertal patients with kidney transplantation. Methylprednisone (0.20+/-0.03) was replaced by deflazacort (13 patients, 0.30+/-0.03 mg/kg per day). After 12 months, creatinine clearance decreased significantly only during methylprednisone therapy. Growth velocity increased only in patients treated with deflazacort from 3.3+/-0.6 to 5.6+/-0.5 cm/year. Serum levels of several components of the insulin-like growth factor axis did not change. Weight/height ratio was increased in methylprednisone-treated patients (P<0.05) and decreased in deflazacort-treated patients (P<0.005). Lean body mass increased in both groups (P<0.005). Fat body mass and serum leptin increased only in methylprednisone-treated patients (P<0.025). Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol increased in methylprednisone-treated patients by 9.9% (P<0.05) and 12.5% (P<0.025). High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol increased by 21% (P<0.005) and apolipoprotein B decreased by 11% (P<0.005) in deflazacort-treated patients. Total skeleton and lumbar spine bone mineral density decreased in both groups, but at 1 year methylprednisone-treated patients had lost 50% more bone. Bone mineral content decreased only in methylprednisone-treated patients (P<0.01). Our data suggest that substituting deflazacort for maintenance methylprednisone might prevent height loss, excessive bone loss, and fat accumulation; and leads to an improvement in the lipoproteins of these children.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drugs
Pharmaco-metabolomics
DrugDrug GroupsMetaboliteChangeDescription
DeflazacortApproved InvestigationalHDL cholesterol
increased
Deflazacort increases the level of HDL cholesterol in the blood
MethylprednisoneApproved InvestigationalTotal cholesterol
increased
Methylprednisone increases the level of Total cholesterol in the blood
MethylprednisoneApproved InvestigationalLDL cholesterol
increased
Methylprednisone increases the level of LDL cholesterol in the blood